FTP Error 214: Help Message
FTP reply code 214 is the response to a HELP command. It lists the commands the server supports or provides usage instructions for a specific command. When HELP is sent without arguments, the server typically lists all available commands. When sent with a command name (e.g., HELP RETR), the server provides a brief description of that specific command's syntax and usage. This is useful for discovering which commands a server implements, especially vendor-specific extensions. Note that not all servers implement HELP, and the format varies between implementations.
Status
214 Help MessageExample
220 ftp.example.com FTP server ready
USER alice
331 Password required
PASS ****
230 User alice logged in
HELP
214-The following commands are recognized:
USER PASS QUIT CWD CDUP RETR STOR DELE MKD RMD RNFR RNTO LIST NLST PASV PORT TYPE SYST FEAT NOOP
214 Help OKHow to Troubleshoot
Discover available commands
Send HELP to see which commands the server supports. This is useful for identifying extensions and custom SITE commands.
curl -v ftp://ftp.example.com/ -Q 'HELP'
Use FEAT instead for capability negotiation
For programmatic capability detection, FEAT (returning 211) is more reliable than HELP. FEAT returns a standardized list of extensions, while HELP format varies between servers.
Common Causes
HELP command listing available commands
highThe client sent HELP without arguments to get a list of all FTP commands the server supports. The response lists command names, sometimes with brief descriptions.
HELP for a specific command
mediumThe client sent HELP followed by a command name to get usage details for that specific command. The response explains the command's syntax and parameters.
Related Error Codes
System Status
The server is reporting its system status or listing supported features.
Syntax Error, Command Unrecognized
The server did not recognize the FTP command. It may be misspelled, malformed, or unsupported.
Command Not Implemented
The FTP server recognized the command but has not implemented it or has disabled it.
References
| Specification | Section |
|---|---|
| RFC 959 | RFC 959 §4.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
This reference was compiled from official RFCs, protocol specifications, and hands-on troubleshooting experience. AI tools were used primarily for formatting and organizing the content on the page.